Combined ignition and starting system for internal-combustion engines



' Au 9, 1949. J BECK 2,478,739

COMBINED IGNITION'AND STARTING SYSTEM FOR INTERNALCOMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Nov. 12, 1947 hzveafo/ Job/2 56014.

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Patented Aug. 9, 1949 GINES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED IGNITION AND STARTING SYS- TEM FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION EN- John Beck, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada Application November 12, 1947, Serial No. 785,492

1 Claim. (01. 123-179) This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in internal combustion engines of automobiles, tractors, boats, or the like, more specifically, in the ignition and starting systems of such engines, and the principal object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character herein described whereby the ignition system of the engine will be supplied with current at proper and full voltage, notwithstanding any drain such as may be imposed on the storage battery by the starting motor.

It is well known that the ability of internal combustion engines to start, particularly in cold weather, is considerably hindered, if not totally destroyed, by the demand for current by the starting motor upon the battery, so that only a current of very low voltage, if any, remains available for the energization of the ignition coil and spark plugs. It is therefore, as aforesaid, the principal object of the invention to eliminate this disadvantage by supplying the ignition coil with proper voltage of current while the starter is in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ignition and starting system of the character described, wherein the voltage of current delivered to the ignition coil during the normal running operation of the engine is not excessive, and wherein the voltage of current passing through the coil during starting may be adjusted so as to assure eficient starting of the engine under either summer or winter driving conditions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined ignition and starting system for internal combustion engines which includes means for delaying the delivery of current of proper voltage to the ignition coil for a short period after the starting motor switch has been closed and for continuing the supply of such current to the coil for a short period after the switch has been opened, the former arrangements assuring that an increased supply of current is not delivered to the switch prematurely and the latter arrangement assisting in the energization of the coil and spark. plugs immediately after the supply of current to the starting motor is discontinued, thereby facilitating quick and easy starting of the engine, particularly in cold temperatures.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a combined ignition and starting system which is simple in construction, which may be effectively employed in association with new engines as well as those already in existence, and which will readily lend itself to economical manufacture.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects and advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, my invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawing which is a wiring diagram of the ignition and starting system of an internal combustion engine, embodying the instant invention and arranged in accordance with the teachings thereof. 7

Referring now to the accompanying drawing, the invention consists of a combined ignition and starting system for an internal combustion engine, the system being designated generally by the reference character 5 and the engine including a conventional storage battery 6, a starting motor I, a starter motor switch 8, an ignition coil 9 together. with a distributor l0, and an ignition switch i all these being of conventional type so that detailed dsecription thereof is considered unnecessary.

However, it should be explained that the proper operating voltage of the coil 9 is somewhat lower with respect to the normal output of the battery 6, say 4 /2 volts and 6 volts respectively, and a relatively strong resistor I2 is connected in series by means of the conductor l3 to the coil and to the battery 6 through the switch I I, so that current from the battery to the coil is reduced to proper (4% volt) voltage before passing through the coil under normal engine operating conditions.

The starting motor I is connected to the battery 6 through the medium of the switch 8 by means of the conductor l4, and the essence of novelty in the invention resides in the provision of means for supplying current of proper, full voltage to the coil 9 while the starter I is energized, that is to say, without the necessity of such current passing through the resistor 12.

This means includes a suitable solenoid l5 having a core I B. The winding of the solenoid is connected. in parallel, via conductor to the starter 1 and switch 8. The core 16 of the solenoid is also connected via conductor l8 to the switch 8. A yieldable armature I9 is magnetically drawn into contact with core Hi When current is flowing in conductor I! so that the parts l6 and I9 may, for convenience, be designated as a magnetically operated switch. Armature I9 is also provided with an extension finger 20 carrying a contact point 2| which in turn engages with a stationary contact point 22. The latter is connected by means of a cable 23 to the aforementioned coil 9, a further resistor 24 bein interposed in series in the cable 23, as will be clearly apparent. However, it should be noted that the resistor 24 is relatively weak with respect to the resistor l2, the strength of the resistor being equal to approximately one halfthe strength of the resistor l2.

A free extremity of the aforementioned finger- 20 operatively engages the teeth of a relatively large gear 2'! constituting a component of a train of step-up gears designated generally; by; the.

reference character 28. Thegear 21 meshes with a pinion 29 secured to a shaft 30 which-also-car= ries a gear 3| in mesh with a pinion 32 onaiunther shaft 33 provided with an escapement wheel 3,4, Theteethof wheelr34l alternately engage, a bairof pins- 35' and 38 on a reciprocating balance wheel,3] mounted onshaft 38 thereby providing the required braking action.

The, contact pointsv 2| and 22 are normally open, and it will be apparent from the foregoing thatupon magnetisation of the core Hi, the armature l9 and thefinger 20 will be urged in the direction of the arrow 35, but before this movement can occur, the free portion of the finger 20 will be caused to actuate the gear train 28. Ac-.- cordingly, the closing action of the points 2] and 22gwill be delayed for a short period of; time after. the energization of the solenoid, while the finger 20- overcomes the inertia of the gear train 28. Similarly, when supply of current" to they solenoid I is discontinued, opening ofthe-contact'points 2| and 22 will be delayed in'thesame manner.

Needless to say, the gear 21 may be substituted by a single toothed sector or fork, inasmuchas complete revolution'is not required.

Having-thus described the structure'ofthe in" vention, its method of operation will nowbeexplainedl Assuming theengine is to be started, theigni tionswitch ll isturned on, thereby supplying current from the battery 6 to the coil 9 through the conductor I3. the resistorl2 reducing thedeli-vered voltage so as to prevent damage to. thecoil, as already explained.

Thereupon, actuation of the starting switch 8 simultaneously energizes the starting'motor I and thesolenoid l5, the energization of the motor 1 substantially reducing the voltageof the bat tery-6 within a short period of time after the actuation of switch 8. During this short intervalthefinger 26 overcomes the inertia of the gear train128and closing of the points 2| .and 22 is effected whereupon current from .thebatteryG:

followsapath of least resistance to the: coil 9,

namely,.through the conductors I4 and 18, core l6, ;armature l9;finger 20, points 2! ande22sanda the conductor 23.

Assuming, the'selector switch 26 to be opem. current will pass through the resistor. 24,:wbut: ins,

asmuch' as this. resistor is weaker than there sistori [2, current of proper volt,age 14 v.) will be delivered to the coil 9, notwithstandingtheoperation of i the starting motor 7.;

It .will Joe apparent, that inqthis manner, an eX-;

solenoid I5 is discontinuedthe delaying? action of thegear train 28 will maintainthe 1 points. ,2 l and. =,22 incontact-fora briefjperiodcof time, thereby continuing asupply of relatively-high:

'4 voltage current to the coil and thus assisting in the-starting of; the engineimmediately after the switch-8 is'opened.

In due course, as the engine is in operation, the points 2 I and 22 of course become separated, and current to the coil 9 is delivered through the conductor l3 as aforesaid.

The purpose of the selector switch 26 is to facilitate passage of strong current through the conductor 25 to the coil 9 under winter weather conditions, while the passage of such current may be diverted'lby opening the switch) through the resistor 24 in hot weather, when delivery of full voltage to the coil is not necessary.

It is, believed that the advantages and use of theinvention will be clearlyjapparent' from the foregoing disclosure, and accordingly, further description thereof at this'point is deemedun necessary.

Since various modificationscan bema'de in the invention as hereinafter described; and." many apparently widely different embodiments of same made'within the spirit and scope of the claim without departing from such" spirit andscope; it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall-be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense;

What I claim as my invention is:

A combinedignition and starting-'motor circuit for internal combustion engines comprising in combination with a battery, starting motor and ignition coil, a magnetically operated switch, a delayed action assembly, a strong resistanceand a wealrresistance, conductors extending between the foregoing components and switches in said conductors, one of said conductors extending between said battery and said coil, said strong re sistance and one of said switches "being serially. inserted in said conductor, a second conductor having a switch therein extending between'said battery-and said starting motor, athird' conductorextending between said last mentloned switch and said magnetically operated switch; a fourth conductor extending from a tap onlsaldsecond 'conductor upon the starting motor side oithe switch therein, to thetwin'ding' ofsaid'magnetically operated switch',la'third switch between said magnetically operated switch .andL-said coil, one terminal of said third switch being opera tvely connected to the'armature cf'saidlmagnetically operatedswitch; a stationary terminalnormallyxspaced from: said first-mentioned oer-- minal, a fifth conductor extendingjbetween saidstationary terminal and said coil, said weak 're-- sistance andla switch beinginserted in parallel and inlseries respectivelyjin said fifths conductor,-

saidydelayedxactlon assembly operatingto= re- REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the file -,ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,487,210 Davies Mar. 18, '1924 2,398,259 Slayton- Apr. 9,1946 

